"Your only guidepost is your own instinct and judicious editing. In my stand-up act I learned that in the first 10 minutes I could say anything and it would get a laugh. Then I'd better deliver. In the movie it's the same thing. You get a lot of laughs when people first sit down and then the story better kick in. Many years in front of an audience, I would hope, give me a sense of what works."

Source: COVER STORY : A Side Order of Steve Martin : He's had his ups and downs with L.A., but they're back together in his new movie. Interview with Elaine Dutka, articles.latimes.com. February 3, 1991.